A Flag is a word used to describe a banner, pennant or ensign, or a cloth with colors or patterns, used as a symbol of a nation. A Flag is an honored symbol of a nation's unity, achievements, glory and high resolve. The Flag of the United States of America is such symbol, of freedoms bravely fought for and won, of protection under the Constitution of the rights and privileges of all Americans.

The first flag to fly over North America may have been the Viking banner, a black raven on a white field, a symbol of good luck carried by Leif Ericsson as he visited Newfoundland circa 1,000 a.d. In 1492, Christopher Columbus carried two flags, the flag of Spain and his personal flag. The Spanish flag was designed in four quarters, with two alternate quarters in red with two gold castles of Castile, and two alternate quarters in silver-white with two crimson lions of Leon. Columbus' personal flag was a white banner with two gold crowns, a green cross, and the letters F and Y (for King Ferdinand and Queen Ysabella) emblazoned on it.

Further explorers of North America carried the royal flag of France, a blue ensign with three gold Fleurs-de-lis on it, and the flag of England, a white flag with the red cross of St. George. The later used British Union lack flag was a combination of the St. George flag and Scotland's St. Andrew flag, a blue banner with a diagonal white cross.

When the American War of Independence started, various flags were used by individual ships and military regiments, including pine trees and several rattlesnake "Don't Tread on me" flags. Not even all thirteen colonies had standardized flags for use. This caused a great deal of confusion.

In January 1776, General George Washington proclaimed the organization of the Continental Army and raised the Continental Colors. This was the first red-and-white thirteen striped flag, with the British Union Jack in the canton (upper left-hand corner).

The Continental flag remained as the unofficial national flag until the Continental Congress adopted a Resolution establishing the thirteen star-and-stripe U.S. National Flag on June 14, 1777. This was the birthday of the American Flag and is why June 14 is celebrated as Flag Day.

Little or no documentation from the Continental Congress explains the design or origins of the flag. Only in later years attempts were made to reconstruct the history of the first Stars and Stripes. Various claims have been advanced as to the origin or inspiration for the flag; many of the stories are possible, but unproven. The most popular story of Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross sewing the first such flag also seems to be unlikely.

The most likely candidate for designer of the Flag appears to be Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a recognized designer. A record was found of Mr. Hopkinson submitting a bill of $2,700 to Congress for "currency designs, design for the Great Seal of the U.S., a treasury seal, a design for the Flag."

George Washington later characterized the color scheme and design of the Flag as being symbolic of America itself. The white stripes represent the purity and serenity of the nation, while the red stripes represent the blood spilled by Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The white stars symbolize the purity, liberty, and freedom within the nation. The royal blue field stands for freedom and justice. The number of stars and stripes represented the thirteen states of course.

With the admission of Vermont and Kentucky as new states to the Union, the design of the flag was upset. Congress adopted a resolution on Jan. 13, 1794, that the new flag would be of fifteen stripes and fifteen stars, to become official on May 1, 1795. This was the flag flown by the U.S. during the War of 1812.

The admission of yet more states proved to be a dilemma. Although adding more stars was not a problem, additional stripes would eventually run together as to be undiscernible. Congress adopted a flag resolution in 1818 that stabilized the number of stripes to thirteen, representing the original thirteen states, while a new star would be added for each new state admitted, to take effect on the following July 4th. This resolution settled any further design changes to the U.S. Flag.

The United States adopted a detailed flag code in 1942, which established rules and customs for display and honoring of the national flag. While strictly adhered to by the Armed Forces, the flag code is treated as a matter of etiquette by civilians. The Pledge of Allegiance is also recited in the U.S. to show respect for the Flag.

In 1989 and 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws declaring flag burning to be desecration, and instead reaffirmed First Amendment rights of self-expression. These rulings caused a great deal of anger among patriotic groups, which have in turn called for a Constitutional Amendment to protect the U.S. Flag as a symbol of our Nation.

In the United States, Flag Day (more formally, National Flag Day) is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Contents Competing claims How to observe Flag Day

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937 Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Title 36 Sec. 110 of the US Code is the official statute on Flag Day, however it is at the President's discretion to proclaim officially the observance.

The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York.

Framingham, Massachusetts also holds a yearly Flag Day parade, as do many other towns and cities, although in recent years a shrinking turnout has prompted the town to consider eliminating the event.

Several men are claimed to have played early instrumental roles in the establishment of a National Flag Day.

• Perhaps the most fervent claim dates to 1885, when a schoolteacher, Bernard J. Cigrand, reportedly urged the students at the public school in Waubeka, Wisconsin to observe June 14 as "Flag Birthday." He moved to Chicago to attend dental school, and in June 1886 wrote an article titled "The Fourteenth of June" which was published in the Chicago Argus newspaper. He continued to promote the idea, and by June 1894, 300,000 children gathered in parks throughout Chicago to celebrate the day.

• Another claim is made on behalf of William T. Kerr, a resident of Collier Township, Pennsylvania for a number of years, who founded the American Flag Day Association of Western Pennsylvania in 1888, became that organization's national chairman one year later, and served as such for fifty years. He attended President Harry S. Truman's 1949 signing of the Act of Congress which formally established the holiday.

• An older and less cited claim is in Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, published by Standard Publishing Company (Chicago) in 1912. It credits George Morris of Hartford, Connecticut:

To George Morris of Hartford, Conn., is popularly given the credit of suggesting "Flag Day," the occasion being in honor of the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. The city of Hartford observed the day in 1861, carrying out a program of a patriotic order, praying for the success of the Federal arms and the preservation of the Union.

The week of June 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. The flag should also be displayed on all Government buildings. Some organizations hold parades and events in celebration of America's national flag and everything it represents. It's also a time to remember and honor military men and women who defend America.